Potomac Falls Health & Rehabilitation Review

Unfortunately this place is short staffed. 1 nurse per 14 patients. At night they are very short staffed.

The best thing about this facility is the occupational theraphy and speech therapy Catlin and Elana are the best. The rest really sucked.

A pleasant environment. I have learned a lot and improved on my clinical skills.

My wife was transferred to Potomac Falls for rehab after major orthopedic spine surgery. When we arrived the staff was accommodating and friendly, the room large and clean. Our arrival timing was not ideal as there as a staff meeting of some sort scheduled shortly after our arrival so meds orders and so forth were not immediately addressed and pain and other medications were not provided in a timely manner.

Also, since my wife needed assistance to go to the bathroom, which was pretty far away given her inability to walk well and the severe post-surgical pain, we asked for a commode. Three hours later it had not been provided, nor were other options made available. The nurse didn t go to obtain a walker and provide help for my wife to use the bathroom.

Dinner time was shortly after we arrived. My wife found the food provided to be all but inedible. To be fair, she wasn t really able or interested in eating, which didn t help. Also, we re sort of foodies and I don t hospital food would/e that appetizing for either of us.

The biggest issue was the bed. The adjustable bed frame was compromised of several steel tube framed grids that are articulated for bed movement. This was covered by a thin (5 or 6 inn hotel thick) sexy soft mattress that did little to cushion the frame.

Since she has to recline at an angle for healing and health reasons, she had the natural tendency to slide down the mattress, causing the incision area to come into contact with the steel tubes causing severe pain and concern.

I had gone home when dinner was being served so I could eat and take care of some home things. The ride took about 30 minutes. Shortly after getting home my wife called to tell me about the bed, terrible food and the lack of a commode and that I should come back immediately to help deal with the problem.

It took me about 45 minutes to get there and the commode issue had become the primary problem. It had been about 3 hours since the request and still no commode. I went out to the nurses station and asked for the commode and was told that our nurse was working with on obtaining one. An additional 20 or 30 minutes passed before one was brought. An additional few minutes wait was required for here to bring a walker so my wife could get up and maneuver to actually use the commode.

At the same time, I d asked (with some force and anger) for some resolution to the bed problem. An orderly finally came down with a replacement mattress which was essentially the same as the one being replaced. Not a solution. Then they suggested an air mattress.

By this point my wife was no longer able to be tolerant and did not want to stay. The staff was not comfortable with this, of course so I called the original hospital, explained the situation and was ultimately connected to the ER coordinator who did a fantastic job arranging discharge, transport and immediate access to a room. It took a while but he go here back to the hospital.

During this whole period the nurses, nursing supervisor and other staff what Potomac Falls tried their best to help us and resolve the problems. They didn t succeed because they didn t have the facilities needed for my wife s specific issues. They did their best but we re stymied by circumstances.

Ultimately, my criticism is one that is typical for nursing homes. Understaffing, limited resources, awful food, and what I would call a lack of urgency in helping patients. Potomac Falls is not unique when it comes to these failings. Read reviews of other facilities (or the news when the problems become scandalous) and you will see the same sorts or problems are endemic across the country.

Would I recommend Potomac Falls? Probably. They have a very good reputation for physical therapy and rehab. Not so much for food and attentive care. Our biggest issue was that neither we nor the hospital team had thought through the requirements specific to my wife s case. If we had, provisions would have been made to better match the rehab facility to the patient s needs.

Pros: The front desk staff was always amazing and helpful, and my Grandmother said the janitorial staff were the nicest. I believed some of the nurses were nice as well.

Cons: Pretty much everything else. Overall, bad experience. I know there are some worse places out there, so not sure where an okay/decent one in the area would be (open to recommendations). My Grandma was here for about 20 days. The response time of the nurses ran from about 10-15 minutes, as my Grandma's roommate would time it every time she requested assistance, and I was there to experience one of the 15 minute time waits. My Grandma couldn't reach the light switch (or really anything) easily, and was told someone would come to make it easier, but this never happened during her stay. Once when my grandmother stated she had to use the restroom at night, the nurse told her that she didn't have to go, and it was "sleepy time." The discharge was incredible. Incredibly bad. On the discharge forms it stated that my Grandmother was supposed to be provided medical equipment at discharge, and even though this is what the form said, everyone denied it. First, the nurse. The smirking nurse. Who when my grandmother would talk, would look and respond to me (my grandmother's of mind), and then when my grandmother brought up the equipment, the nurse would look at me and laugh, like my Grandmother was crazy and making this all up. There was a social worker there who did try to help, but after some of the debacle said that even though the forms said there was supposed to be equipment provided, maybe someone just "filled it out wrong." We've tried to contact the social worker that was on my Grandmother's case, and reached out to her out of office contact when her what I'm assuming was a vacation response was on, and we have yet to hear back from anyone for over a week now. All that said, hoping to get this medical equipment soon to lessen the likelihood of my Grandmother falling again, and having to end up back at this place. Wish everyone well and much luck in finding care for their elderly loved ones!

If there was any lower rating I would have given that...worst place you can choose for your loved one!!! Management could not be any worse than at this hell hole!!!

Front desk was delightful, nursing staff doesn't care about quality of care for patients.

We had a very good experience here. Dad loved the staff, the food, and the comradely. Very attentive caring staff, too.

My father has been in rehab here twice. The first time he was well attended while recovering from a fall. The most recent stay was there to recover from a stroke which left his speech very impaired. His speech therapist was great and some of his nurses were terrific, but on one evening he had to call me to try to tell me he was out of catheters. This was challenging bc his speech and word use if very limited. No nurse or representative called to say he didn't have catheters. My sister had been in his room earlier in the day. And apparently the catheters he needed were there in the supply closet, but no one got them for him. I had to send his teenage grandson to get catheters for him as he hadn't gone to the bathroom for 8 hours. He left the facility with a bladder infection. I wrote and email an asked to speak with a supervisor, but no one returned my calls or messages.

I received a response from the center below saying that an admin would be in touch, but no one has emailed me. The response further exemplifies the lack of attention to details as it speaks about the care my mother received. My FATHER was the patient so I Imagine they are struggling to figure out why HE was not given the catheters that his day nurse had confirmed were in their supply closet and quickly retrieved for us the next day.

Be very careful sending your family member here.

If they allow their workers to be bullied or cursed at?? By each other.

These bullies are taking care of your loved one.

So understand your loved one can't defend themselves.

Not to mention the activity Dept can get their hair done on the CLOCK!!!

While patients are waiting in the hall for their appt

Hair and eyebrows, nails BUT all along suppose to be taking care of your family member.

UPDATE: 2 years later

The CNAS ARE WONDERFUL AND THE REHAB ARE FABULOUS!! Get rid of the Administrator and this place could definitely move up in ratings.

That front office is the mess

All the negative reviews are true as we experienced the same. Lack of medical resources and communication is obvious. Had to be proactive and reach out daily to find out updates. Rarely got any call backs from nurses, staff, doctors and often times had to follow up. Nurses there could never provide and real updates and info, always said she is doing fine. Never once did we see the doctor at this facility nor did we receive a plan of treatment. When we noticed our family member's health deteriorating, we decided to take action and remove our family member out from this rehab. We are glad we did because we found out that our family member's medical treatment was incorrect and also discovered many bed sores of which were not present prior to entering this facility. Basically, our family member left in worse condition then when entered into this facility.

I have been working at Potomac falls for many years, and enjoy being a part of the Potomac falls team .
Great place to work...
Excellent Rehab for your loved ones

This is an amazing center! Clean, open, with lots of great staff. Wonderful place to work.

If you want your loved one to die this is the place for you!

My father was unfortunately stuck in this place for almost a month. The staff does not bother with quality patient care and it's awful to have to witness. I work on a very busy, very understaffed hospital floor and I understand it's a difficult field, but there's no excuse for not doing everything you possibly can to take care of the patients under your watch. I'm ecstatic for my father to be getting out of this dump. So disappointing that facilities like this could care less about the quality of their patients lives. Not to mention their recent COVID outbreak!

My sister was admitted here for rehab. They have been wonderful!!! Always trying to accommodate her needs and food preferences. The staff is so friendly and helpful! I love this facility...it's so new and very clean with nice spacious rooms! Sis is doing sooooo much better! Thank you Potomac Falls Health and Rehab... from our entire family!

Great place for meeting your rehabilitation and Long term care goals.Interesting regarding reviews on food and care. There are many who put their heart and soul into making this facility a cut above the rest.

Had a family member here and it was awful. They do not care about the elderly. They didn t help my family member with a shower but instead gave a cup and threw a towel on the bed..... DO NOT SEND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Had a bad experience. Staffs are shocking not friendly at all.
I complained twice but never get any answer back.
I won't recommend to anyone.

Awesome staff, great team, very caring and attentive.

There is not much I can say that is good.... Some of the people actually care but, most are lazy. Overall very disappointed in the care there.

Cleanest freshest skilled/long term nursing facility that I have ever been in. Thank you to those who have a heart to care for thise in need.

My mother needs full care that only a Skilled Nursing Facility can offer. She has been there 3 years now and she is well taken care of. The facility is well maintained inside and outside. The staff, including the front desk and maintenance, are friendly and try to accommodate any concerns I have in a timely manner. I'm very grateful that my mother was accepted into Potomac Falls SNF community.

My dad was in that God awful facility. He came there for rehab and for wound treatment to his behind and because he was a fall risk they let him sit for hours in a gerichair parked in front of a television. When asked to placed in bed my mother was told no. Because he falls. On many occasions he was up for a minimum of ten hours and on one occasion I myself had to put my father to bed as he was in pain and in tears. This place should be ashamed of itself for the lack of care they give the patients. His last day there we had to request he be sent to the hospital where he was found to have two infections and two horrendous wounds. If I could give this place a negative 10 review I would. If you love your family steer clear.

I was the victim of an attempted sexual assault from a staff member in February 2018. I think it is time to open an investigation and SHUT IT DOWN !!!

Very satisfied with the care of PF. Nurse, Dietary Staff, CNA's, Therapy ....etc Congratulations on a job well done.

Hubby, diagnosed with Parkinsons, was admitted to help with his strength and mobility. After 1 1/2 months he was discharged in worse condition than when he went in this facility. I liked this place. It's clean, the staff are friendly, but not always the most helpful. I think many of them are too young to have much experience in elder care. I was better at getting Hubby in my car than the young man who offered to help. What kind of nursing staff would tell him to put his feet in the car first while he's sitting in a wheelchair next to the car!!?? The kind that works in this facility! I feel like my family was deceived with reports their alleged progress. He can't even stand up! He could before he entered Potomac Falls. He could get to the bathroom before, but not now. i'm now considering long term care, somewhere else.

Mil was there after a stroke. Very pleasant atmosphere and hard working ot and pt staff.

My loved one is there right now. Food is terrible! The daily staff is kind and helpful. That being said they need more staff at the front desk. The receptionist is it overwhelmed!! He said they have been thru his drawers looking for jewlery and credit cards!! Hhmmm.... Not sure what that was all about. Do not bring any valuables to these facilities! And check in on your patient.

im sad i cant give zero star.. This is the worst place. Management are rude, especially the Dietary Manager and her assistance, they dont know how to talk to people, secondly the food taste bad and they never give fresh food, all they do is to reheat whatever left over either from lunch or breakfast and reuse it for dinner. Cooks be using their raw hand in handling food esp one cook called Fausto! If you want your love ones to live longer please and please dont send your family members to this trash facility..

Left my brother sitting in his own waste for over an hour.
He Left with a high fever.

A very good and interesting rehabilitation centre. But here's something you might find

Please do not leave your family members up here. Terrible service, short of nursing and medical assistance personnel. They take for ever to help out. My. Mom have a fracture In her pelvis and need help to get up from her bed or chair, and they would take about 45 minutes to come after the fact that my mom had press the bell for assistance. So, she always end up having a few incidents, it shouldn t be that way. The physical therapist are the best, they do an excellent job. But the rehab staff are lazy and extremely slow. I have to give one star in order to write a review, otherwise I give them none. Please look somewhere else.

Amazing service ! Thank you for all you did for my mom :) I would highly recommend Potomac Falls Health and Rehab to anyone looking for a rehab center or for long term care.

A very caring atmosphere for providing care for your family. Wonderful staff, caring and loving atmosphere . Very professional staff, always willing to help, everyone is so friendly and helpful.
Check them out!!!

Stayed here during a rehab stint. Staff was great and I left healthy.